Canadian Retail Thread

[Jay in Cowtown]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

And all have said the downtown area on weekends is very quiet and while the shops are open they are not busy at all.

Huh, my sister came home for a visit and brought her boyfriend from Manhattan with her this summer, and he couldn't believe how cosmopolitan and busy Calgary's downtown and beltline was for a city of a mill.

[SpongeG]

Vancouver survival kit store banking on The Big One

VANCOUVER - If The Big One — that mega-earthquake that threatens to carve the West Coast a new orifice — ever hits, rest assured: our mayor and city councillors should be okay.

That’s because city hall is right across the street from a store that sells earthquake survival kits. Now if only the folks at Krasicki and Ward Emergency Preparedness can find a way to save the councillors’ bicycles.

Krasicki and Ward moved into the lower level of City Square shopping mall in July, setting up in a windowless space that looks like a good place to wait out a storm. Should a storm happen, the company’s five employees will have supplies to last through a long one.

The shelves contain 72-hour emergency survival kits, first-aid supplies, power bars, flashlights, batteries, ropes, tents, whistles. Bring it on!

And, in case The Big One takes its own sweet time arriving, Krasicki and Ward will survive quite nicely. Most sales for the company, which has been around for 13 years, are made to three levels of government and to private companies stocking up on supplies for their employees. Construction companies, restoration firms and civic governments with traffic departments buy the safety vests.

The store also sells camping supplies, first-aid kits, fans for home and office, and booster cables for customers with unreliable cars.

“It’s a fun business for us,” says Scott Larson, Krasicki and Ward sales manager. “The retail stuff will sell, but we bring in esoteric things that people order.”

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/V...#ixzz0yoSQcjh2

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by Jay in Cowtown

Huh, my sister came home for a visit and brought her boyfriend from Manhattan with her this summer, and he couldn't believe how cosmopolitan and busy Calgary's downtown and beltline was for a city of a mill.

Pffft.

Mike sees your first hand account and raises you something he's heard and read on the internetz... your call.

[SpongeG]

Taking a page from Wal-Mart, Holt Renfrew hires greeters


BY HOLLIE SHAW, FINANCIAL POST SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

TORONTO — Holt Renfrew, snooty?

The luxury retailer’s new president, Mark Derbyshire, is chagrined at the mention of the company’s reputation for having sales clerks with a chilly attitude that may intimidate potential customers.

But the impassioned new head of Holts, who greets visitors with a friendly arm squeeze, seems determined to conquer the historical image problem this time around. “It’s all about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere — we want it to be a fun store,” said Mr. Derbyshire, an avowed fashion lover who took up the helm at Holt Renfrew eight months ago after working as a human resources executive at Holts and then at parent company Wittington Fashion Retail Group, whose holdings also include the tony department stores Selfridges in the United Kingdom and Brown Thomas in Ireland.

“You’ll see people coming in here in jeans, coming in from the gym,” he said in an interview Wednesday at the company’s flagship Bloor Street store in Toronto. “We want to attract people who love style ... it’s not about money.”

To that end, Mr. Derbyshire is willing to spend some money on improving Holt Renfrew’s service to a level that makes every customer feel special. Taking a page from the Wal-Mart playbook, he has hired greeters (also known as a “Holts host”) to stand at the front of every store and genially engage customers in conversation as they walk in.

“It’s all about being an ambassador,” he explains, to direct people to various parts of the store or to warm up those consumers who need help “get[ting] over that hurdle of being a little bit intimidated.”

The company has also hired more staff at Holts’ nine department stores across the country, boosting service levels by 10% to 25% in various store areas. The in-store restaurant, following customer demand, has added burgers and new salads to its lineup and displays its menu on backlit plexiglass panels at its entrance for those who may be reticent about asking to see a menu before they enter.

“The strength of our business is directly correlated to the strength of those relationships,” Mr. Derbyshire said of the various service initiatives. “You won’t be loyal when you don’t get good service.” Mr. Derbyshire, whose father and grandfather were both Canadian Tire dealers, said that message was the strongest one he gleaned from the family business.

It’s a formula that has been a hit with consumers, who have boosted womens’ department sales 15% year-to-date compared with the same period last year, despite a stronger dollar that could potentially woo many big brand shoppers to make luxury retail purchases in New York City instead of Toronto or Montreal. The company, which sees 75% of its sales from the womens’ department including shoes, accessories and cosmetics, has also expanded the presence of more everyday wearable clothing, with a broader range of prices than in the past. Sales of the Brunello Cucinelli line, which includes sweaters, scarves, and a pinstriped wool Jodhpur-style pant priced at $853, are up 48%. The apparel, accessories footwear and designer Tory Burch is also posting stellar sales in the store, and the in-store Burberry kiosk is the top performing of 30 throughout North America.

“There is more product that reflects their lifestyles, products that they might wear to a patio in addition to those they might wear to a [dressier] party on Saturday night,” he said. “We always had them, but it was our best-kept secret.”

Mr. Derbyshire replaced Caryn Lerner, a former Escada head who led Holts for five years, after she left in January. Since her departure, he has expanded the range of sizes and prices available at the store, plans to re-introduce a Holt Renfrew private apparel label back into the store and has begun taking key sales staff on purchasing trips to Milan and Paris along with the apparel buyers.

...

http://www.vancouversun.com/business...674/story.html

[brentwood]

I am not sure stores make their investment decisions based on hearsay posted on the internet about how "busy" a mall or street is. Pretty sure they base their decisions on hard numbers such as sales per square foot. The likes of Holt Renfrew, Brooks Brothers and Harry Rosen have made investments in downtown Calgary presumably because the numbers support it. They do not factor in all the teenagers and hipsters that hang out in malls or on the street because it is the place to be but do not actually spend money. A lot of malls in developing countries in Asia are packed at all times of the day too, it would be interesting to see some sales per square foot or sales per customer visit for some of them.

To put this in simple terms, just what does miketoronto think is motivating Holt Renfrew to expand and renovate in downtown Calgary if the area is "dead" most of the time. Clearly the management of Holt Renfrew is insane and they were bribed by the Downtown Association to make the multi-million dollar investment.

[SpongeG]

and why give consumers choice - thats what miketoronto advocates - force them to shop downtown

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

The image I have of Calgary is of thousands of 1/2 acre estates far out in the burbs

Heh. I know you didn't mean anything nasty by this, and I suspect it's intentional hyperbole, but I do have to comment (hey, it's what I do).

Calgary's "far out" burbs are densely-packed tall and skinny houses crammed 8 feet apart from each other. If anything our newer suburban communities are denser than many of the inner-city areas - much of that still retains its frontier charm when it was built by the rich. Much bigger properties on much bigger lots.

miketoronto is 100% right about Winnipeg and how suburban shopping killed the downtown in the 70s and 80s. And fuck, it still continues. Every time I come back here I'm simply astounded at how much bloody retail exists everywhere throughout the city. For a city of 700,000, there's more retail than I see in Toronto. Malls, malls, big box, strip mall, another enclosed mall, here's another strip of stores... it just goes on and on and they're constantly building more. Well, one good thing about it is that you don't really have to drive very far to get to damn near everything - I'd say every last house has all the major retail within 5-10 minutes drive these days. And much a lot closer.

[SpongeG]

thats a good way to do it though build where the people live

shopping isn't really anyones favouruite pastime is it? when you ask people what they like to do on their days off they don't usually say SHOPPING!

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

shopping isn't really anyones favouruite pastime is it? when you ask people what they like to do on their days off they don't usually say SHOPPING!

Oddly enough, it is for me and the woman. We don't really buy all that much but when there's just nothing appealing to do, and we want a cheap (ie: free) activity, we wander the malls. You get (mild) exercise, you get to see people, and it's a great way to have a good idea on prices of everything. We spend quite a few evenings in any given month doing this, if there's nothing else to do and we just want to get out of the house without blowing a lot of money. So long as it isn't on a weekend, I find mall walking can be very relaxing. It sure beats planting your ass on the couch watching TV.

[SpongeG]

yes see in a mall - lol not downtown

shopping is my #1 activity but in vancouver the answer is usually - oh i love the grouse grind have to beat my last time

[Policy Wonk]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

Chinook should not even have been built. The downtown area could have handled the shoppers just fine.

Downtown Calgary was not exactly a hotbed of retail activity, there was HBC and Eaton's and a small Woolworth's (Relocated to North Hill in late 50's, and demolished to build the Scotia Centre) There was never a Simpsons in downtown Calgary, there was never at Woodwards in downtown Calgary. Much of the space that is retail today was not retail at the time it was built. Calgary first experienced a large influx of retailers in the early sixties and most went directly to the suburbs at that time.

The largest influence on where stores are located is simply group-think by retailers. High-end retailers are extremely risk averse and when they sign a lease they are committed. Retailers therefore like to co-locate with similar retailers so they can bask in each others halo since even if they are not direct competitors they probably share the same potential customers. Nobody has ever been fired for saying "lets open our Calgary store at Chinook".

Urban locations are also very expensive and have pitfalls all their own, lets take 17th Ave. You sign a lease as a retailer chances are pretty good there will be a demolition clause that is very favorable to your landlord should they choose to redevelop. Another challenge is urban problems such as vagrants, inadequate parking - even for deliveries and an increased need and costs for physical security.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by freeweed

Oddly enough, it is for me and the woman. We don't really buy all that much but when there's just nothing appealing to do, and we want a cheap (ie: free) activity, we wander the malls. You get (mild) exercise, you get to see people, and it's a great way to have a good idea on prices of everything. We spend quite a few evenings in any given month doing this, if there's nothing else to do and we just want to get out of the house without blowing a lot of money. So long as it isn't on a weekend, I find mall walking can be very relaxing. It sure beats planting your ass on the couch watching TV.

Isn't shopping the most popular "recreational" activity in North America? I thought this was a relatively well-known fact.

If I look at my entourage (especially older people and people without kids), this certainly appears to be the case.

[SpongeG]

in malls - which helps prove the point of why we have them and why places like chonook exists much to the anger of miketoronto who hates it

if people didn't like malls than we wouldn't build them - but obviously people do

so arguing that stores should only exist downtown is an absurd 1950's mentality

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

in malls - which helps prove the point of why we have them and why places like chonook exists much to the anger of miketoronto who hates it
if people didn't like malls than we wouldn't build them - but obviously people do
so arguing that stores should only exist downtown is an absurd 1950's mentality

Excuse me, but when did I say I fully hated malls? There are malls which are actually designed very well and most of them are downtown style malls like Eaton Centre in Toronto or even The Core. There is way to keep downtown retail strong, support street shopping, and also provide the indoor mall shopping that some like.

I guess you consider Europe absurd than, since they have very tight laws on suburban retail expansion and supporting downtown retail.
In my dads city in Italy(which has a regional population larger than Calgary), the only major shopping area is downtown. You will not find suburban shopping no matter how hard you try.

I guess it is absurd that many European cities require IKEA and other big stores to locate downtown and they must follow very strict bylaws and prove why they should have to locate on the outskirts of town if a downtown location is not available?

I guess it is absurd that big stores in major European cities usually only have one location and that is in the downtowns. My friend is living in Berlin and he was telling me about the legendary department stores there that only have one store, and that is downtown. These stores see upwards of over 65,000 people a day through one store. They are destinations that offer the best items in the city including very popular and famous restaurants and food halls.

I guess it is absurd that Australian cities like Brisbane with larger regional populations than Calgary have all their destination retail downtown along busy, vibrant, amazing pedestrian only malls and arcades and downtown malls?

I also guess Ottawa was absurd for having tight limits on suburban retail expansion until the 1990's. The limit was actually in place until downtown Ottawa regained a specific % of regional retail sales which it had lost to the suburbs during the suburban craze. This suburban limit is one of the reasons the downtown Rideau Centre become the major mall for the region.


The following is from
http://www.queenstreetmall.com/About/Default.aspx

Just think if that was about Stephen Ave Mall

---------

Queen Street Mall

Even as far back as the 1950’s a trip to the Queen Street Mall was associated with glitz and glamour - gloves, hats and silk stockings the standard. Today is no different. The Queen Street Mall continues to deliver distinctive ‘big-city’ excitement to residents and visitors alike. A visit to the Queen Street Mall is more than a shopping endeavour ... it is a unique inner-city experience. A reason to don your finest.

Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall has long been considered the centre of fashion and retail in Queensland. This vibrant shopping and lifestyle precinct lies at the heart of Brisbane City and is arguably Australia’s most successful pedestrian mall, playing host to over 26 million visitors a year.

The Queen Street Mall offers an unrivalled mix of local, national and international labels and flagship stores. Some 700+ retailers have made their homes here – many enjoy mall and street frontage, others are tucked away inside world-class centres and heritage-listed arcades.

A visit to the Queen Street Mall guarantees a complete leisure encounter. Restaurants, cafes, bars, cinemas, salons and day spas, 5-star hotels and a grand casino sit right on the mall. A five minute stroll will see you exploring Brisbane City’s galleries and museums, parklands and our gorgeous riverside.

Train
The Queen Street Mall and Brisbane City are conveniently located within walking distance of Central, Roma Street and South Bank train stations.

For more information visit: www.translink.com.au

Bus
With countless bus routes, the Roma Street Transit Centre and the new Inner Northern Busway, it makes sense to catch a bus straight to the heart of the Queen Street Mall and its nearby surrounds.


---------------

From Adelaide which is about the same size as Calgary.

----------
http://www.rundlemall.com/about/index.shtml

Welcome to Rundle Mall. Rundle Mall is Adelaide’s premier retail destination and meeting place.

With over 400,000 customers every week and 23 million visitors annually, Rundle Mall is the most popular attraction in the state of South Australia.

Rundle Mall offers the largest selection of shopping facilities in Adelaide, including the three largest department stores, 15 arcades and centres, 700 retailers and more than 300 non-retail services and offices.
------

[SpongeG]

well this is Canada not Europe - the lifestyle is different - its like comparing chocolate and potatoes

you cannot force something on people or cities because it works on paper or elsewhere or you read about it in a book or heard from a friend

calgary has winter weather so outdoor malls and arcades has romantic as that sounds works in australia but doesn't work here year round

things change, progress happens, people used to have crap loads of kids now they have 1 or 2, people used to dress up to go to dinner, now they wear sweatpants and flip flops, going downtown was a big deal a big outing, now people can shop from home and pop out and go wherever they want and most choose whats convenient and close by - its not a glamourous undertaking anymore and probably will never be like it was back in the day

people - other than this forum - aren't huge downtown lovers they see it has crowded, scary, dirty, smelly and avoid it - in reality if they actually skipped the mall and went downtown they would be pleasantly surprised by what they see but they don't

retailers have had to adapt to changes - department stores are having a problem because they are using old ideas and not working - only now we are seeing them figure it out and gain back what they lost in recent years and customers are slowly going back

Calgary has more than chinook and the core - it also has market mall and Southcentre mall - malls that house the regions Crate & Barrel, Apple, sephora, restoration hardware, H&M stores - all that could have gone downtown but didn't - so clearly retailers know where to open

none of what you say is absurd other than the fact that you need to understand that what works elsewhere cannot be forced somewhere else

if people wanted it like europe they would do something about it perhaps - they would elect city officials that planned like they do in europe perhaps

fact is we have the land and the space that europe doesn't and we have a car centred lifestyle and always will

I don't know enough about Calgary to comment - but in the case of Vancouver having 80,000 residents downtown which is itself a peninisula - surrounded by water on three side - does a lot to help the downtown retail thrive and grow

if anything its absurd to pick on cities - pick on the retailers - they are the ones opening multiple stores cause they know where they will make the money - how can a region of 2.3 million people only have 1 store of something? apple has 3 stores in vancouver they can't all be shoved downtown or expect to have one store to service the region - they go where the shoppers live

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

I guess it is absurd that many European cities require IKEA and other big stores to locate downtown and they must follow very strict bylaws and prove why they should have to locate on the outskirts of town if a downtown location is not available?

This has not been my observation. At least not with IKEA and many other large chains. IKEA for example has stores branded as Paris-Est, Paris-Nord, Paris-Sud, Paris-Ouest, Paris-whatever. All in the suburbs and none within the city itself. Now, these suburbs may be denser than most North American suburbs but they are far from being downtown-type stores like The Bay or Ogilvy on Ste-Catherine in Montreal.

IKEAs in Europe are typically on a suburban boulevard surrounded by a fairly large parking lot. And there is usually an oil change place, a big sporting goods place like Décathlon, an electronics place like Darty and a renovation centre like Castorama on the same road. This is true of much retail in Europe these days.

Sadly perhaps, much of the shopping in Europe is going the North American route. Downtown is still far from dead in most cities it is true, but I would venture to say that most people today actually shop in suburban hypermarkets (like Carrefour, Auchan, E. Leclerc in France - my examples since I know France best) that are not much different from our Costco to be quite honest.

[davidivivid]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Sadly perhaps, much of the shopping in Europe is going the North American route.

It is what I have observed as well when I lived in Bordeaux. Historically, there is a very strong commercial presence downtown. Ste-Catherine street, often billed as the longest pedestrian street in Europe, attracts thousands of shoppers each day. However, all the new commercial projects are situated in the suburbs with HUGE Carrefour and Leclerc hypermarché. I am not saying it is good or bad but I've certainly noticed this trend elsewhere in Europe (though not as pronounced as in Canada).

On a different note, next week, Urban Outfitters will be opening a new store in St-Roch, Quebec city. This historic neighbourhood really is evolving nicely nowadays. Here is the store:


http://www.carrefourdequebec.com/nou...Nouvelles=3081

And here's a view from the neighbourhood. The store is situated in the building at the right of the church.


http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15835000


http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13233042

[Riise]

Originally Posted by miketoronto

I guess you consider Europe absurd than, since they have very tight laws on suburban retail expansion and supporting downtown retail.

In the UK, the policies are not intended to restrict suburban retail development but rather to preserve towncentres. As there can be suburban towncentres, the laws are intended to keep these areas vibrant and prevent detrimental autocentric development from occurring at the fringes of towns and central and suburban nodes.

Originally Posted by SpongeG

you cannot force something on people or cities because it works on paper or elsewhere or you read about it in a book or heard from a friend

calgary has winter weather so outdoor malls and arcades has romantic as that sounds works in australia but doesn't work here year round

Yet I have both read about and visited Northern European countries with numerous, and vibrant, pedestrian streets and malls. Just to clarify, I'm simply arguing that outdoor shopping in Calgary could work.

Originally Posted by Acajack

Sadly perhaps, much of the shopping in Europe is going the North American route. Downtown is still far from dead in most cities it is true, but I would venture to say that most people today actually shop in suburban hypermarkets (like Carrefour, Auchan, E. Leclerc in France - my examples since I know France best) that are not much different from our Costco to be quite honest.

In my opinion, I think it is only a certain type of retail development that is heading out there. For instance, Ikea. Through the policies that I mentioned above, I think groups like Carrefour, who can fit their model into an urban format, are doing so. These policies are not eliminating autocentric suburban retail development, but helping ensure that they are properly justified and not to the detriment of healthy and vibrant towncentres/nodes.

[SpongeG]

new apple store opened in Richmond Centre today - vancouver's 3rd store


flickr

looks like they had a long line up

flickr

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Riise

In my opinion, I think it is only a certain type of retail development that is heading out there. For instance, Ikea. Through the policies that I mentioned above, I think groups like Carrefour, who can fit their model into an urban format, are doing so. These policies are not eliminating autocentric suburban retail development, but helping ensure that they are properly justified and not to the detriment of healthy and vibrant towncentres/nodes.

Indeed the policies lead to a much more balanced situation than what we see in most North American cities (though some are reasonably well balanced here too: Montreal, Toronto, NYC, even Ottawa).

It may be a different issue but small independent inner city stores in most European countries are usually hurting these days. Though the inner cities are generally quite dynamic on the retail side, what is being seen is the larger chains squeezing out the small independents, and you often get the exact same stores as you move from one neighbourhood to the next.